Organic Acids, Catalysts, and Mass Spectrometry

在这个由化学学部化学结构、动力学和机理B项目资助的项目中，明尼苏达大学化学系的Steven R Kass教授将探索氢键网络。这项研究的目标是了解多个氢键的后果，开发新的环保酸、碱、催化剂和传感器，以及更好地了解酶的工作原理。该项目位于有机、物理、分析和生物化学的界面，因此它非常适合从高中到研究生和研究生学习的学生的教育和培训。大量的学生在有机化学课程和该系的NSF-REU， Lando（国内和国际）和Khorana/Bose（国际）暑期研究项目中接触到这项研究。将制备利用多个分子内氢键的仿生酸、碱、氢键催化剂和阴离子分子受体。它们的性质（如pKa）和反应性将被探索，并将获得对氢键网络的新见解。通过进行包括气相在内的各种物理测量，以及检查手性试剂，将确定不同类型氢键的影响。这将有助于设计和开发有用的试剂和传感器，并为酶催化转化、蛋白质折叠和离子运输等自然发生的生物过程提供见解。

In this project funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamic and Mechanism B Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Steven R Kass of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota will explore networks of hydrogen bonds. The goal of this research is to learn about the consequences of multiple hydrogen bonds and develop new environmentally friendly acids, bases, catalysts, and sensors, as well as a better understanding of how enzymes work. This project lies at the interface of organic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry, and as such it is well suited for educating and training students from high school to graduate and postgraduate studies. Large numbers of students are exposed to this research in organic chemistry classes and the department's NSF-REU, Lando (domestic and international) and Khorana/Bose (international) summer research programs.Bio-inspired acids, bases, hydrogen bond catalysts, and anion molecular receptors which make use of multiple intramolecular hydrogen bonds will be prepared. Their properties (e.g., pKa's) and reactivities will be explored, and new insights into hydrogen bond networks will be obtained. By carrying out a variety of physical measurements including those in the gas phase, and examining chiral reagents, the effect of different types of hydrogen bonds will be determined. This should facilitate the design and development of useful reagents and sensors, as well as providing insights into naturally occurring biological processes such as enzyme-catalyzed transformations, protein folding, and ion transport.